Fontanafredda
Alta Langa Riserva 72 Mesi Blanc de Noirs Pas Dose Vigna Gatinera 2018
| Denomination | DOCG Alta Langa |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Pinot Nero |
| Aging | Second fermentation in the bottle (traditional method) in May, followed by maturation on the lees in cool, dark, protected cellars for 72 months |
- Name and style: Alta Langa DOCG, classic method sparkling wine with no added sugar dosage
- Grapes and vintage: 100% Pinot Noir, harvested in 2018, Blanc de Noirs
- Ageing on the lees: 72 months in bottle for greater complexity and refinement
- Main aromas: notes of peach, pear, toasted dried fruit and freshly baked bread
- On the palate: firm structure, lively acidity, very fine perlage and a savoury finish with spicy hints
Description
What kind of wine it is
The Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé Vigna Gatinera by Fontanafredda is a refined sparkling wine produced using the Traditional Method in Alta Langa. Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this wine stands out for its intense aromatic profile, dominated by notes of peach and pear, enriched with hints of toasted dried fruit and fragrant bread crust. On the palate, it reveals an enveloping structure, balanced by lively acidity that leads the tasting towards a long, savoury and pleasantly spicy finish. Its Pas Dosé nature offers a taut and vertical sip, enhanced by an extremely fine and persistent perlage that highlights every nuance.
Where it comes from
The grapes come from the heart of Piedmont, within the Alta Langa area, specifically in the territory of Serralunga d’Alba. The vineyards are located on hillsides at an altitude between 400 and 600 metres, benefiting from excellent eastern exposure which ensures slow ripening and preserves the freshness of the fruit. The soils, characterised by white clays alternating with calcareous sands, give the wine its distinctive tension and savouriness. The vines are cultivated using the Guyot system, following organic and sustainable methods to protect the integrity of the local ecosystem.
How it is produced
Harvesting takes place between the end of August and the beginning of September, followed by gentle pressing to extract only the free-run must. After static settling, fermentation is divided: part rests in stainless steel at controlled temperature, while the other matures in wooden barrels in contact with fine lees until spring. The two bases are then combined in a harmonious blend before refermentation in the bottle according to the Traditional Method. The long ageing of seventy-two months on the lees in underground cellars gives the wine profound complexity. The complete absence of final dosage allows the authentic nature of the fruit to be appreciated, making it suitable even for those following a vegan lifestyle.
History and Curiosities
This prestigious Alta Langa DOCG from Fontanafredda, a historic winery founded in 1878, celebrates the excellence of the Piedmont region. The 2018 vintage is a refined Blanc de Noirs made exclusively from Pinot Noir, obtained from delicately pressed grapes. Its complex structure is born from the combination of musts fermented in steel and in barrique. After refermentation in the bottle, this superb Metodo Classico Pas Dosé matures for 72 months on the lees in the darkness of the cool underground cellars, revealing the pure, vibrant and unmistakable identity of Vigna Gatinera.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
08 - 10 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
- Start up year: 1878
- Oenologist: Giorgio Lavagna
- Bottles produced: 7.000.000
- Hectares: 120
Like all beautiful things, Fontanafredda originates from a love story between the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, and Rosa Vercellana.
Producers of Barolo and sumptuous wines of the Langhe, it was the scene of many firsts: they were the first Barolo to go overseas, the first to produce the first Classic Method in 1959, which was to be the forerunner of Alta Langa.
The founding principle of the winery is the concept of community.
Since 2018, Fontanafredda has been cultivating 120 organically certified hectares that are the setting for Italy's first Storytelling Village ('Villaggio Narrante'), which is still home to 12 families of workers who make the village an authentic village, alive and productive.
Fontanafredda is also hospitality, a meeting place where everyone is welcome thanks to its 4-star hospitality.
Today, the company preserves intact the testimonies of its noble past - the hunting lodge, the village, the extensive cellars, the vineyards - but continues to renew itself and experiment, perfecting what nature and history have handed down. For this reason, in the Langhe, where vines and wine bind generations to each other and shape the landscape, Fontanafredda is an essential reference point. The expression of a wine culture that comes from the earth, from the vineyard, and is refined through the work and creativity of people.
In 2021, the Alta Langa DOCG Contessa Rosa Rosé 2014 was named 'Best Sparkling Wine in the World' according to Tastingbook 2021.
In 2022 the BAROLO SERRALUNGA 2018 entered the TOP100 of WINE SPECTATOR in 78th place. Read more
| Name | Fontanafredda Alta Langa Riserva 72 Mesi Blanc de Noirs Pas Dose Vigna Gatinera 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green classic method sparkling wine pas dosé |
| Denomination | Alta Langa DOCG |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Pinot Nero |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Fontanafredda |
| Story | History and Curiosities This prestigious Alta Langa DOCG from Fontanafredda, a historic winery founded in 1878, celebrates the excellence of the Piedmont region. The 2018 vintage is a refined Blanc de Noirs made exclusively from Pinot Noir, obtained from delicately pressed grapes. Its complex structure is born from the combination of musts fermented in steel and in barrique. After refermentation in the bottle, this superb Metodo Classico Pas Dosé matures for 72 months on the lees in the darkness of the cool underground cellars, revealing the pure, vibrant and unmistakable identity of Vigna Gatinera. |
| Origin | Serralunga d'Alba |
| Climate | Altitude 400–600 m a.s.l.; east-facing hill |
| Soil composition | White clays interspersed with layers of calcareous sands |
| Cultivation system | Guyot |
| Plants per hectare | 4300 plants per hectare |
| Harvest | Late August, early September |
| Fermentation temperature | 18–20 °C (in stainless steel); up to 20 °C (in barrique) |
| Fermentation | 72 months on the lees |
| Production technique | Traditional method (second fermentation in bottle) |
| Wine making | Grapes harvested in crates of about 20 kg, gently and delicately pressed; must placed in temperature-controlled tanks for static decantation. The clear must is divided into two parts: one ferments in stainless steel at a low temperature (18–20 °C), the other in barriques in underground cellars (max 20 °C) and remains on the fine lees until spring; then the cuvée is blended. Second fermentation in the bottle (traditional method) in May and maturation on the lees for 72 months; pas dosé. |
| Aging | Second fermentation in the bottle (traditional method) in May, followed by maturation on the lees in cool, dark, protected cellars for 72 months |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |